A nine-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the head by her three-year-old little brother over the weekend, authorities say.
Police in Alabama say Irondale third grader Kimi Reylander was critically wounded Saturday before being rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Kimi was reportedly shot after her brother found their great-grandfather's gun on a nightstand in his home.
"It appears to be a tragic accident," Irondale Police Chief Ken Atkinson told AL.com.
Upon hearing the gunshot, the great-grandfather, Joel Watson, ran to the bedroom.
"I came in and when I came in the door, my son came out and said she had been shot," he told WIAT.
Watson said he left the firearm out without knowing his great-grandchildren were coming to visit.
Atkinson called the incident another sad lesson in firearm safety and urged gun owners to keep their weapons out of sight at all times.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover funeral expenses.
According to the Washington Post, Kimi is the fifth person to be hurt in an accidental shooting by a toddler since Jan. 1. Also this year, at least four toddlers have accidentally shot themselves.
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